MS Hospitals now required to take in coronavirus patients, even if full

Hospitals in the state now must take in patients, even if the hospital is at full capacity.

In mississippi are now required to take in new patients, even if they are at full capacity.

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Wtva's bronson woodruff explains what this mean for patients and medical workers.

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"we've overwhelmed our health system.

We're having to go to extraordinary measures."

Dr thomas dobbs explained in a zoom meeting that hospitals will not be able to reject patients, even if they are full.

Dobbs added tempers are flaring between different hospitals over which hospital takes which patient, and he added teamwork will be essential.

"it's gonna be really tough, but it will be a lot better if we kinda work together."

"we're all full."

Jeremy blanchard of tupelo's north mississippi medical center explained.

He said through a central group called medcom, critically ill patients are sent regionally, northern, central, and southern to hospitals that are able to treat critically-ill patients.

For example, tupelo's north mississippi medical center can't refuse a patient from medcom.

"so if they call us with a patient, even if we don't have an icu bed, even if we don't have a covid icu bed, we must accept that patient."

Among the hardships during this pandemic, blanchard explained a lot of hospital employees are getting coronavirus from patients.

"it becomes much more impactful when all of your beds are full, and you're managing patients in your emergency department with less staff."

He said the hospital has had more than 300 employees sick at once from coronavirus exposures.

Blanchard said this situation is challenging, and he wanted to recognize hospital workers for what they do.

"they are superhuman in their ability to care for other people, and even in the face of adversity."

Blanchard said despite the stress on staff, medical personnel at nmmc will continue giving it everything they've got.

In tupelo, bronson woodruff, wtva 9 news.

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